Disney Cruise Line ships are the ultimate places for parents and kids to hang out and have fun on the high seas. Kids have their choices among a ship full of children’s activities and entertainment. But, did you know that Disney offers a number of activities aimed at adults, that provides a getaway from the kid-filled environments and some quiet time for you.

Disney’s Quiet Cove area provides an opportunity for adults to sit back, relax, refresh and spend time with that special someone. Head to the back of the ship and you will find four areas;

Quiet Cove Pool;

Cove Cafe;

Cove Bar;

Cove Hot Tub

Quiet Cove pool and bar

Compared to the pool’s main deck, the area is small, but it’s a welcome addition. The pool isn’t large enough for swimming, but adults can take in the surroundings, wade, neck-deep, and chill-out. This pool area is located on Deck 9 on the Wonder and Magic, Deck 11 on the Dream and Fantasy.

A perfect spot to relax in the two oversized whirlpool spas at one end of the pool. On the Wonder there are cascading waterfalls into the pool. On both the Magic and Wonder, the poolside bar Signals is a great place to get the cocktail of the day or other tropical libation. On the Dream and Fantasy, the Cove Bar is an elegant swim-up bar. Enjoy your cocktails without even getting out of the water!

Disney Fantasy -Satellite Sun Deck

Satellite Sun Deck is a new feature that is only found on the Disney Fantasy, and located on Deck 13 Forward. A canopy shades a fountain surrounded by plenty of lounge chairs for relaxing near the water. Satellite Falls is a circular splash pool with benches and a cascading rain curtain. Nice-very nice.

The Cove Cafe

Located on Deck 9, Disney Wonder and Magic, Deck 11 on the Disney Dream and Fantasy. The Cove Cafe is exclusive to adult guests, and offers specialty coffees and drinks. This coffee bar is only accessible via the adult pool area. Beautifully decorated in the Art Deco style, The Cove Cafe is inviting and warm. While the large screen TV and Wurlitzer jukebox may have you thinking “loud” it’s actually a quiet retreat. It’s the perfect spot to order a specialty coffee drink (additional charge) and to use the wireless internet (additional charge).

Waves Bar (Disney Dream )

A casual open-air bar located on Deck 12, Aft, it provides a breezy, scenic vantage point where Guests can unwind with a refreshingly cold drink.

Currents Bar (Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy)

An outdoor bar, found on Deck 13, Forward. It is a great lookout spot, with a refreshing icy cold drink in your hand. Head up there around sunset, order a cool drink and watch the ocean go by or glance the shore as you dock at a new port.

There are deck chairs nearby to enjoy a golden sunset. It is located high onboard on the ships upper deck, and sometime it is breezy.

Daytime activities and presentations

Adults can also choose from a variety of other daytime activities and presentations. The activities vary on each of the four ships, so check your Navigator each day.

Wines of the World Cellar Master Presentation

Beer Tasting (4 & 7 Day Cruises)

Martini and Tequila/Margarita tasting – $15 each (4 & 7 Day Cruises)

Champagne brunch at Palo

Jackpot Bingo

Chip-It Golf

Volleyball, Ping pong, Bridge games and tournaments

Movies (both family films and those for mature audiences)

Stem to Stern Wine Tasting: $12/person-If a casual overview of wine tasting is an excellent addition to the adult entertainment series onboard the Disney Cruise Line, this session is perfect for both the experienced and amateur wine gourmands. For one hour the Disney Cruise Line’s sommeliers (trained wine experts) walk you through tasting 5 wines and one sparkling wine or Champagne.

What’s the best dining rotation on the Disney Cruise Line restaurants?

Animator’s Palate: (Disney Wonder, Disney Magic)

Our choice for the best innovative and creative dining experience. The restaurant transforms itself from black and white to full color as your meal progresses. Scenes appear from classic Disney films, colors are added to the scenes and at the end of your meal there is a festive surprise.

Animator’s Palate (Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream)

The Animator’s Palate show on the Dream is different than on the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic ships. There are HD TV screens on the walls around the restaurant. As you enjoy your dinner the “Undersea Magic” unfolds. Characters from “Finding Nemo” swim by to play interactive games with the children. Crush will have conversations with several tables during dinner!

On our cruise this past October, they added “Something New”.

We experienced “Animation Magic“, an interactive dinner show that involves the guests in the animations shown during the meal. We were all invited to draw Disney characters on the placemats (stick figures are OK). Our servers collected the completed drawings, which were later displayed up as animations on screens around the room. The guests’ names were displayed and we received our drawings back with a special animator’s stamp added. The show uses special Disney-created software to bring the drawings to life, along with a brand-new musical score and several never-before-scenes from Disney films.

Castaway Cay, The Bahamas: Best Things to Do

Castaway Cay is a private island in the Bahamas which serves as an exclusive port for the Disney Cruise Line ships; Disney Wonder, Disney Magic, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy. It is located near Great Abaco Island and was formerly known as Gorda Cay.

There are so many things to do, you might have a hard time deciding how to spend your time. There are three different areas; one for adults, kids and families. Activities include; sunbathing, waterslides, bike trails, open-air massages, a sprinkler water play area, a giant three-story water slide designed to look like a castle, parasailing, fishing, boat rentals, snorkeling, a stingray interaction adventure, character visits and more.

It’s a long walk from the ship to the beach but you can hop aboard a complimentary Shuttle/Tram to get around the island.

Gils’ Fins and Boats, Flippers n Floats, and Windsock Hut $: These three shops all have snorkel and tube rentals, as well as free life vests you can borrow.

Pelican Plunge: A castle-looking water slide is set far enough from the shore so that the squeals of children can’t be heard on the beach. Note: water is waist deep for adults so you may need to assist kids to get over to the slide.

Spring-a-Leak: Similar to the “Finding Nemo” water park for small children, the wet play area includes a variety of fountains and sprinklers for toddlers and young children to explore.

Bike Rentals $: You can rent bicycles to ride the same path that some passengers run a 5K on, but you can also rent a variety of sizes, even ones with training wheels and even kids’ seats for the smallest riders.

Beach Sports: Volleyball, tetherball, and soccer courts are set up.

In Da Shade: This covered area has basketball hoops, pool tables, and ping pong tables. Supervisors are here so that Tweens (ages 11-13) can hang out without their parents. Crab races take place throughout the day around the island.

Scuttle’s Cove-First tram stop: Castaway Cay’s children’s area includes supervised activities —such as sandcastle competitions and water balloon games. Parents who want some quiet time, can drop off the little ones and head to the adult-only beach, called Serenity Bay, for a little while.

Scuttle’s Cove-Characters : Including Mickey Mouse and Goofy, make appearances throughout the day.

Hide Out: Teen-only area has music as well as a private strip of beach, with lounge chairs and umbrellas just for the 14- to 17-year-olds.

Beach Cabanas $: 20 cabanas that you can rent. Complete with lounge chairs, a dining table, a sitting area, a fridge, a locker, towels, and sunscreen.

Serenity Bay-Tram stops here: Adult-only beach on Castaway is farthest from the ship. Has a Great area for peace and quiet, and it includes a massage cabana for massages on the shore.

Rental prices are as follows (as of 11-1-2014):

Snorkeling Equipment – $29 for adults, $14 for children for the entire day

Float Rentals – $10 for the entire day

Bicycle Rentals – $10 per hour

Castaway Cay Getaway Package – includes snorkeling and floats for the whole day and a 1-hour bike rental, $42 for adults, $20 per child

2 Person paddle boats $15, 30 minutes

4 Person paddle boats $20, 30 minutes

Hobie Kats $28, 30 minutes

Sea cycle water bikes $24, 30 minutes

1 Person sea kayaks $14, 30 minutes

2 Person sea kayaks $18, 30 minutes

Strollers, complimentary on a first come basis

Sand wheelchairs complimentary on a first come basis

Castaway Cay: Our 10 tips:

1. Don’t bring a stroller.

There are free strollers (complimentary on a first come basis) , wagons and joggers available on Castaway Cay. There are even special wheelchairs made specifically for use on the sand.

2. Sun Screen-Towels-Showers

Don’t bother brings towels from your room, they are available on the beach. Use plenty of Sun block every 2-3 hours and there are outdoor showers located on the island.

3. Pelican Point – Family beach:

Area gets increasingly crowded as the day progresses. Arrive between 8:30-9:00 am when the gangway opens. This will allow you to have a choice selection of beach chairs in the location you desire. Relax, have quiet time and swim for a few hours, before the crowds arrive.

Rent an inner tube.

It provides fun for children for just a few bucks. Then you can sit back and watch the kids play while you dip your toes in the water.

5. Rent a “Snorkel”.

What’s the Caribbean without snorkeling? There’s a “trail” dedicated for this purpose that you’re welcome to explore. See if you can find “Mickey” under the water and a relic from “20,000 Leagues under the Sea”

6. Eat on Castaway Cay.

Don’t head back to the ship for lunch. The food is tasty and free on Castaway Cay. There are three places to eat: Cookie’s BBQ, Cookie’s Too BBQ and a “secret” BBQ near Serenity Bay (the adult-only beach). The restaurant at Serenity Bay is solely for grown-ups and offers “bonus entrees” not available at the other two — like deliciously seasoned grilled steak.

7. Conched Out Bar, Heads Up Bar, Sand Bar, and Castaway Air Bar:

These four beach bars all serve a mix of beer, cocktails, and frozen drinks. In addition, roving waiters walk the shore with buckets of water and rum punch specials for sale throughout the day.

8. Don’t pay for bottled water.

Many coolers are located around the island where you can get a cup of cold filtered water for free. Free soda and water is also available at Cookie’s BBQ.

9. Castaway Cay souvenirs.

Don’t wait to buy Castaway Cay souvenirs back on the boat. Special themed souvenirs are ONLY available on Castaway Cay. Purchase t-shirts, gear and memorabilia on the island.

Let’s go for a drive! When we last met, we were leaving behind the Universe of Energy and we now know what is the World’s best renewable energy…right?! As we head towards Test Track, you may be worried about the racing cars that are zooming overhead. I promise…it is not as scary as it sounds. I am a thrill ride wimp and I love Test Track. Seriously

When you enter the queue area, you are allowed to design your own ride of the future. This is a fun interactive queue line. Disney has a genius way of presenting guests with means to enjoy even the most boring of tasks. As you make your way through the queue line, you will end at the actual boarding of your car. The ride takes you through the tests actually performed on vehicles in order to ensure safety and comfort of all car buyers. You are signed up to be the test dummy in the vehicle. You will ride in the car through extremes in hot, cold, and road/traction control. There are also a few other tests that you will go through that I wouldn’t want to spoil for those of you who haven’t ridden before. The final test is an acceleration and banking test and it is at that point that the car bursts into the outdoor setting, providing those zooming cars you heard before entering to ride.

This is where the thrill comes from. For me, it is my chance to feel the thunder of banking and acceleration (65 mph) in an open vehicle, while knowing that I am completely safe because this is Disney and we are on a track This is my Richard Petty Driving Experience Well as wild as I am willing to be anyway.

As you exit, know that this is the last attraction in Future World and next we will be exploring The World Showcase, country by country. It is a beautiful experience. I cannot wait to share with you all of the beauty to come!!

Hello all, I hope you are staying warm and spring is in the air where you are. My family and friends all know that I love to eat Mickey Waffles when I am visiting Disney World for my breakfast. I have found these delicious waffles over the years on our vacations at the following Disney Resorts: Caribbean Beach Resort; Old Port Royale, Port Orleans Riverside; Boatwright’s Dining Hall, Saratoga Springs; Artist’s Palette, Contemporary Resort; Contempt Cafe, and Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House Resort; Mara. I know there are more that I have missed, as I haven’t stayed at every resort. But, do keep in mind they are not available at all the Disney Resorts dining establishments, like Boardwalk and Beach Club. I sometimes make a breakfast stop at one of the resorts that do serve Mickey Waffles when staying at Boardwalk or Beach Club to get my favorite breakfast. Now that you know how much I have loved eating these delights for as long as I can remember, I will share with you my newest item in my home kitchen. A Mickey Waffle Maker.

My breakfast from Port Orleans Riverside 2009

2014 August Trip with my DH at Animal Kingdom Jambo House

We were shopping online, I found this Mickey Waffle Maker. I seen them at the stores around last year, but missed buying one. So my hubby said you should get it now. I jumped on the chance to have my waffles more often, it was delivered in a few days to my door. I have seen other characters available but I love the Classic Mickey. They aren’t exactly the same shape but I am not disappointed at all. They taste delicious, with a little butter & pure maple syrup.

The waffle maker came with a few recipes, I made the Buttermilk Waffles:

7. Bake between 2 and 4 minutes, using a toothpick to check that the waffle is thoroughly cooked.

Makes 8 to 10 waffles

(I did freeze some for during the week, I put them in ziploc bags with wax paper between them.)

The waffle maker is small and easy to store. The clean up is simple. I am very happy with my Mickey Waffle Maker and enjoying Mickey Waffles for breakfast at home now. But, believe me I will still get them down in Disney when I visit.

Hope you enjoy my article. Please leave any comments.

Have a Magical Day!

Pretty Princess Darlene Nagisha

Darlene Nagi is a wife to Keith, momma to a beautiful daughter Alicia. A momma to 2 adorable doxies Chip & Cogsworth. She loves everything Disney. Loves to help friends and family plan their Disney vacations and help with other vacations that she knows the locations. I love to cook, exercise, read, sew, decorate, garden. Family & friends mean the world to me.

This was a night, a beautiful night at Tony’s Italian Restaurant in Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Of all the times I have been to the Magic Kingdom I never had dinner in Tony’s. For one reason or another be it that we decided on somewhere else or we just changed plans but we never got there. In January of this year I made it a point to make the reservation and keep it. I was determined to have dinner at Tony’s. Outside Tony’s on the sidewalk I have always made sure to find the heart with the paw prints of Lady and Tramp and stop and admire it and say ” this visit I’m having dinner at Tony’s”, so this was the year and the month, January 2015.

The heart is located to the left of the stairs on the sidewalk in front of the railing. I had a difficult time locating it this particular night because there were so many strollers lined up at the railing. I admit I had to move one or two strollers to get this photo. However, I did return them to the exact place I moved them from. Mickey was very proud of me I’m sure. One has to practice good etiquette in order to wear those Mickey Ears. After I took my photo it was just about time for our dinner reservation, and yes, you do need to make a reservation. Once inside we were seated and I realized I had made a big mistake by not having dinner here all those times I cancelled or just went somewhere else. The service was great. The atmosphere was delightful. I was so happy to be there. As an appetizer we had the mozzarella and tomato with balsamic vinegar.

I ordered the chicken parm and it was more than enough and besides it was delicious. I have a food allergy and the chef came out as usual and spoke with me. My dinner was made special just for me. My daughter ordered the Lady and the Tramp special , Spaghetti and meatballs. Who can forget how Lady and Tramp had their first kiss eating spaghetti with that beautiful Italian Music playing ” Bella Notte ” . It was a Beautiful Night then , and a Bella Notte now. Even though it was January the park was still decorated for the Christmas Holiday and therefore Lady and Tramp were still donning their red and white wool hats and scarves surrounded by beautiful red poinsettias. Bella Notte !

It all happens right here at Tony’s Italian Restaurant every night that the Magic Kingdom is open. But it all started when Jim Dear gave his wife , Darling, a little puppy. She named the puppy , Lady. A series of events takes place and Lady meets Tramp, who is just a stray mutt. They have their first romantic dinner at Tony’s while eating spaghetti. Lady and the Tramp was produced in 1955 as a romantic comedy and of course it’s a Walt Disney Film. If you want to feel like part of this great film you need to: 1.make a reservation at Tony’s 2.locate those paw prints 3. order spaghetti and meatballs and 4. play the song over and over in your head while your having dinner “Oh, this is the night, It’s a beautiful night and we call it ” Bella Notte”

I love everything Disney and I love that I can feel the music and the excitement of being in Tony’s with Lady and Tramp and I’m sorry that it took me so long to get there but …..

Is anyone else excited to see the coffee improvements in Walt Disney World? The language of coffee knows no borders and is the number one consumed beverage in the world, aside from water. Walt Disney World, not surprisingly to anyone, hosts a diverse and international guest list. It makes complete sense to improve the taste and quality of coffee offered throughout the resort.

I began drinking coffee after many sleepless nights with a newborn. The habit, or choice, however you want to spin it, has become a hobby if you will, dabbling into lattes, macchiatos, mochas and more.​ Years ago, when visiting Walt Disney World, I continued my coffee intrigue. Many restaurants, quick-serve, and kiosks, were serving NesCafe. Curious, I decided to give it a go. Oh no! this was not how I have come to know coffee.

In the following years, I set my sights on a better fresh-brewed pot. Swan and Dolphin have been serving up Starbucks for years. I found The Wave at the Contemporary Resort serves up a beautiful pot of Mesa de Los Santos from Joffrey’s Coffee for a morning wake up. This is my favorite. Other notable and fun mentions are Kona Cafe’s French Press pot of 100% Kona coffee and Victoria and Albert’s brewed in a unique and entertaining vacuum coffee pot. A short drive to a local Starbucks is also an option as well for a short drive off property.

Needless to say, when the announcement was made that Starbucks would be entering the parks, I was a member of the ‘in favor’ camp. WDW has strong roots in sponsorships and I really like bold coffee, so I actually thought it was a great idea. The opportunity to obtain what I consider quality coffee right in the parks made me happy – plus, I embrace change.

Not so long after the green and white mermaid began to appear, I was overjoyed to hear that Disney Parks would change partnerships and improve their coffee resort-wide! Starbucks can be seen in all parks and Downtown Disney. Though seen over the years in particular locations across the resort, a partnership with Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Co., out of Tampa, FL was made. Slowly Joffrey’s Coffee would be seen in the parks and resorts, in place of NesCafe. They are also producing a line of Disney Parks-inspired specialty brews. Some examples include, Kona Blend, Tusker House, Citricos Dark, and my favorites, Flying Fish Dark and French Bistro Blend. I’ve even ordered them online to drink at home!

Cup of Joe, java, or brew, any way you pour it, coffee changes are a welcome addition to Walt Disney World.

“Bonjour and welcome to Remy, Disney Cruise Line’s luxurious gourmet French restaurant. Remy creates a dynamic landscape where the talents of Chef Arnaud Lallement from L’Assiette Champenoise, a three-star Michelin restaurant in Reims, France and Scott Hunnel from award-winning Victoria and Albert’s at Walt Disney World, combine to deliver a menu of epicurean excellence.

Prepare your taste-buds to be dazzled by this delectable display of contemporary and modern French cuisine, accompanied with some of the world’s finest wines. Be our guest on your journey in a champagne brunch of culinary delight and exquisite service.”

From the moment one arrives for Remy Champagne Brunch aboard the Disney Dream, it is obvious that the upscale experience will be like none other. With spectacular ocean views and a beautiful décor, the stage is set for the chefs at Remy to mesmerize you with their artfully-sumptuous dishes. Come with me now as I take a look back at my “brunch to remember.”

Andy, Anthony, Ken and I promptly arrived for our midday brunch at Remy. It was a gorgeous day at sea and we had all eaten light at breakfast in preparation for brunch. We soon discovered that we and several other guests would all be welcomed to Remy by the chef as a group. Until all the guests arrived, we enjoyed the Meridian, a lounge perfectly-centered between Palo and Remy.

We enjoyed looking at all the artifacts inspired by the early days of sea travel. Outside of Meridian, there is an exclusive deck where adults can enjoy a beverage or cigar.

It wasn’t long before we were all taken into Remy’s wine room for our welcome by Executive Chef Patrick Albert. On one table before us, there were plates of Jamón Ibérico.

There was also a table with Taittinger Brut Champagne.

After each of us was handed a plate of Jamón Ibérico and champagne, Executive Chef Patrick Albert welcomed and oriented us to Remy Champagne Brunch. A native of France, Chef Patrick was impressive with his knowledge of French cuisine. At times, I had a hard time understanding all the French names and culinary techniques with his exquisite French accent. However, I could have listened to him all day. He explained how our brunch menu was thoughtfully designed and perfectly prepared for us. Our meal would start there with the appetizer, Jamón Ibérico. It is a type of cured ham produced in Spain and Portugal. It is made from black Iberian pigs. The grade of the jamón is determined by what the pigs consume. We were served the finest grade, which comes from free-range pigs that roam oak forests and eat only acorns during the last period of their life. After hearing all of that, I was curious about whether the acorn consumption really made a difference. Lots of wild animals eat acorns (deer for instance). Honestly, I could not tell what made it so delicious, but it was. By no means am I an expert on cured meats, but it was perfectly seasoned and velvety. I ate every bite on my plate.

While we ate our jamón, we also sipped on a glass of Taittinger Champagne (included with the meal). The sommelier then explained the optional “Champagne Experience.” For an additional $30 per person, we could have three additional glasses of champagne selected to complement our brunch courses. Andy and I decided we would just share one pairing.

After being seated at our individual tables, the rest of the courses were served. First up was the Vegetable Risotto. The risotto was creamy with perfectly cooked rice. It was topped with crisp radish and carrot. The freshness of the toppings complemented the savory risotto nicely.

Taittinger Prestige Cuvée Rosé NV was the first champagne of the experience. Chef Patrick had explained how it gets its gorgeous pink hue. Unlike other pink champagnes where the grape skins are left in the liquid for a short while to get the pink color, this cuvée is actually a blend. For this cuvée to obtain its unmistakable color and vibrant intensity, a quantity of still red wine produced from the best Pinot Noirs from Montagne de Reims and Les Riceys is added to the final blend.

Lobster, Caviar, Mango was the next course. This was a simple dish, but delicious nonetheless. The tender lobster and salty caviar was interestingly held together in ribbons of sweet mango. With high quality ingredients, the natural flavors shined through in this dish.

Fletan, Pomme de terre thai was probably my favorite dish of the brunch. A seared piece of Halibut carefully placed in a pool of potato foam, gently edged in a thai sauce. I have dreamed of that potato foam ever since. It was that good. The thai sauce had a sweetness that accented it perfectly.

Pommery ‘POP Gold’ ’06 was our next champagne. You may recognize the name “POP” from the bright pink and blue bottles from the France Pavilion at Epcot. During the brunch, we were served the POP Gold. It was wonderfully dry and crisp.

Berkshire Pork with Cannellini Bean was the final main course. For me, this dish did not sound too appealing. Fortunately, the pork was extremely flavorful and tender. I did eat most of it. The cannelloni bean puree was fine, but not particularly memorable.

The Paris-Brest was by far my favorite part of the meal. Who doesn’t love dessert? Paris-Brest is a popular French dessert that was created in 1920 to commemorate the Paris-Brest-Paris bicycle race that begun in 1891. The round pastries represented the bicycle wheels. During our brunch, three traditional choux pastries stuffed with praline flavored cream were served with a hazelnut gelato.

Moët & Chandon Ice NV was the final champagne pairing. This champagne is unique in that it is recommended to be served over ice. It was sweet with a lovely, fruity note.

And just when we thought we were totally done with this amazing culinary journey, our server came out with one final surprise. It was a tray of Remy’s homemade treats. Chocolate suckers, strawberry marshmallows, and canelés (small French pastries with a soft custard center and a dark, thick caramelized crust) were presented as a farewell treat.

Remy Champagne Brunch was an extremely unique experience for me that I thoroughly enjoyed. It does come with a price though. Each person’s brunch cost $50. If you do the Champagne Experience, add another $30. I am very glad I did it this once. Comparing it with Palo Brunch, I would have to give Palo the edge. For me, the food at Palo is more comforting and satisfying.

In 2014, I had the luxury of three long trips to a Disney park. I started 2015 with no trips at all booked. What a dismal thought! So being a proactive girl. I sat and looked realistically at my budget. I have to add that word realistic in there because without it, you and I both know I would have booked a trip to fill every spare day of my holiday time! Anyway, I managed to squeeze in two trips and I would like to chat through my decision making process, then maybe you could share how you decide when and where you book your Disney trips.

Looking at finances seriously depressed me! The three trips I made last year depleted my savings completely. There was a real chance of having no dole whips, no It’s A Small World or pixie dust in 2015. Then as if by magic, I got a raise – yippee! The money was virtually spent by the time by boss had completed her sentence. Then the dilemma… where to go? WDW or Disneyland. I hadn’t been to WDW since 2013 it surely was their turn but there was D23 being held in Anaheim right down the road from Disneyland and I hadn’t been to such a massive fan event before. Also news started to filter through about Disneyland’s 60th celebration, the castle being bejewelled and special souvenirs and finally the killer… a new night-time parade! That sealed it for me Paint the night looks utterly amazing; a kind of Main Street Electric Parade vibe but updated.

Disneyland Train Station

So decision made… Disneyland for 2015! Flights from the UK took up most of my budget, costing just over $2000. The next expense being the hotel. I opted for a hotel within walking distance to both the parks and the convention centre but I ensured I could cancel right up to the day before travel if I were to find a better deal. Again, I would be travelling on my own, however I have such a fabulous friend base around Disneyland I knew I wouldn’t be lacking for company. Due to my economies, I had a little bit of money left… What to do? Save for WDW in 2016? Start my Shanghai fund? Or blow the lot and book a trip to Disneyland Paris? A park, that despite being much nearer than it’s American counterparts, I hadn’t yet visited.

Hotel, Disneyland Paris

Ok, you’ve guessed… I booked a quick trip to Paris. I will be staying off site, to keep costs low, but I have three fun filled days planned for my trip, which is only two months away! I would dearly love another trip to WDW. Alas, as it is the more expensive of the two USA Disney parks to visit, I will have to focus real hard to get back there.

So, how do you go about deciding? Or is there no decision to make? Do you just serially visit WDW? As I keep explaining to friends, I love all Disney parks and totally can not say one is better than the other, they are different. A bit like choosing cheesecake or fudge cake for dessert. Both are amazingly scrumptious and fill me up with a tasty dessert, but sometimes I want cheesecake and I guess for the moment I just want Disneyland (oh and don’t forget the cheesecake!)

If you follow Disney Vacation Club (DVC) development at all, you know that Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows (DPV&B) will be opening sometime this spring; with the current release date of April 1. Pre-sales to current DVC members opened on January 12, 2015. Although I personally didn’t feel there was any chance of me adding onto my membership, I was very curious as to what the points would cost, and perhaps even more so, to finding out what the breakdown of the rental points would be. Both have now been released, and I find myself both more and less interested than I was before I had this information.

First, the purchase price is currently $165 per point. This certainly wasn’t a surprise to me as the per point price goes up with every new DVC property. Of course, since I bought in the second year of DVC existence, this is a LOT more than what my initial purchase was! I believe DVC members got a $5.00 per point reduction during the first phase of sales, but that has now ended. I really have no idea what the minimum point purchase allowed is right now, but an easy example would be 100 points would cost $16,500; 300 points would be almost $50,000. WOW! Of course, these dollar amounts used as examples are purchase price only and do not include annual maintenance costs which go up proportionate to number of points held. All in all, an expensive proposition to own this new property.

Let’s talk a little bit about the actual accommodations first. New to DVC and done for the first (and possibly only) time at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows is a limitation to the size of the rooms available. Most DVC properties have studios, 1-bedroom units, 2-bedroom units, and 3-bedroom grand villas (the 3-bedroom grand villas are not available at all properties). The DPV&B offerings will be comprised of just studios and 2-bedroom bungalows. The bungalows appear to be the big draw of the resort; resembling the individual over the water buildings you typically see in areas like Tahiti. Major features will be outside deck seating facing the Magic Kingdom with spectacular views of fireworks, plunge pools built into the decks of the bungalows, and of course more privacy than you’re likely to get in any other accommodation around Walt Disney World with the possible exception of the Treehouse Villas, individual cabins or your own tent/trailer at Wilderness Campground. What’s missing, at least in my opinion, is the ability to get in the water directly from your private bungalow. Maybe I’m the only one that feels this way, but I know one of my fantasies in thinking about ever having a room like this anywhere in the South Pacific was the ability to dive right in to the crystal clear waters directly from my room. Swimming in Seven Seas Lagoon hasn’t been allowed for quite some time. As I said; maybe it’s only me. But the second thing I wonder about the bungalows is, are they big enough? You can fit a lot more people in a 3-bedroom grand villa than in a 2-bedroom accommodation so I’m just surprised Disney didn’t opt for the larger size. I’m sure they did plenty of research before they decided what to build so I’m sure they had their reasons why they went in this direction.

Now about the studios; this is where I’m really excited. In the construction of the studios at DPV&B Disney decided to adopt the split bathroom idea from the Disney Cruise Line. If you’ve sailed with Disney at all you’re probably already familiar with this concept. Let me tell you it works great for two, and probably is even better for bigger groups of people. Studios are obviously by nature smaller than 1, 2 and 3-bedroom units so you’re probably always going to be running into your roommate a bit more than you would in a larger accommodation. But who doesn’t want some privacy while getting ready? Since just about everyone who visits WDW is always anxious to get up and get out, having the additional bathroom space can go a long way toward making that happen. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this! Now if they would just go back to two queen beds (in at least SOME of their studios!) versus a bed and a sleeper sofa, I’d be really, really thrilled! I can’t say much more about the actual accommodations at this point since I haven’t had the opportunity to see them. Hopefully I’ll be able to rectify that sometime soon.

However, now that you know a little bit about the rooms available, the second important part of the equation is, once you own the points, can you afford to use them at the resort? In the case of the studios, I’d say it’s a resounding YES, with weekly point values ranging from 118 to 269 depending on view and time of year. However, when you look at the points for the actual bungalows, I’m not so sure. For those of us who hold points toward the lower end of the spectrum I don’t know that I will ever be able to come up with enough points to stay here. The weekly points range for the bungalows is 841-1,439. That’s a lot of points! For me, it would take almost all of my points for three full use years to be able to accomplish this. I will tell you that I already (and regularly) utilize my points this way for the cruise line. However when I do that I’m also getting all of our meals included in the cost, which makes it seem like a much more reasonable use of my points. I’m questioning whether it’s worth saving up points just to experience a bungalow.

Even though I’m questioning the value, I’m sure at some point down the road I will try to stay in a bungalow just so I can say I’ve done so. I also have no doubt that Disney will have no trouble at all filling them; probably every single day of the year! I will say I know at least one couple that will be taking advantage of this new property soon. My very close friends had been waiting very impatiently for the points to be announced and the resort to begin selling. They of course, have purchased and will already be staying there in April!

Jo Scholl, grateful Disney Vacation Club (DVC) owner and proud mom to three amazing adult children, one of whom is fellow columnist Shelley Scholl. And a small black dog named Mickey Mouse! Jo is also co-host with fellow columnist Darlene Nagi of the new WDW Fan Zone Radio Blogcast – DVC Edition.

Thanks for joining me again is this series on Living at Disney. While most of the country has been blasted with far below normal temperatures and feet of snow, we have been enjoying generally moderate to warm temperatures in Orlando.

With our five week stay at Walt Disney World, we felt we had plenty of time to explore WDW as well as some time to see what else the area had to offer. Although we have been vacationing in the area since the early 1970s, we had never been to Universal Studios. We decided to do so this year.

As a certified (or certifiable as the case may be) Disney Geek, I never really had any desire to leave the Disney grounds before and probably wouldn’t have now except for the addition at Universal of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (WWOHP). As a Harry Potter fan, I felt that I needed to do a visit to the area and the recent opening of Phase 2 of the Wizarding World seemed the perfect opportunity.

As I have done in previous posts, I will give you my impressions in this case of Universal. Not so much as to say what is better than the other but rather to give you information to help you decide for yourself if you want to visit. You already enjoy Disney style attractions and I hope my insights will be useful to see if you would enjoy Universal or not.

My first impression was that the parks were clean and well maintained. I think I expected something akin to a local amusement park so I was very pleasantly surprised to find out otherwise. Also all the staff we came in contact with were pleasant and helpful and more than willing to assist you in any way they could.

First of all, compared to the 43 square miles of Walt Disney World, Universal seems small. The Universal property in Orlando contains two separate theme parks, each of which also seems compact but also manageable for first time visitors. Universal Studios Orlando, the original park contains the recently opened WWOHP: Diagon Alley. The second more recent park is Islands of Adventure and contains the original WWOHP : Hogsmeade. What this means for you is that if you intend to visit both parks in the same day, you will need the Universal equivalent of a Park-Hopper ticket. This is a must if you wish to visit both WWOHP areas in the same day as well as experiencing all of the wizards realm (more on this later).

First tip. Tickets are much less expensive if you purchase them online. A one day ticket to both parks is north of $90. We purchased ours online and included the special”Buy two, get three” days option for $180. That’s $60 a day. Parking is $17/day which is the same as Disney.

We felt that the three days were adequate to experience all we wanted to in the two parks. We certainly did not try every ride but did do all the top ones and in some cases, several times. Let’s set aside WWOHP for a while and focus on the other attractions. We set aside what I’ll call the standard roller coasters. While these look to be good ones, we felt that you can ride coasters at almost any amusement park in the country so we skipped these in order to allow adequate time to experience the other attractions.

I would categorize most of Universal’s top attractions into two categories. The first is the fixed base motion simulator, usually with 3D effects. Think Star Tours. You are seated in an open simulator and panels drop down on either side to obscure you from seeing the walls next to you. The video screen in front of you carries a 3D video of the action. The attractions like this are, The Simpsons and Despicable Me for example. While these were entertaining, they seemed far less immersive than Star Tours. During the entire ride, I never had the feeling that any of the action was “real” the way you do in Star Tours.

The second category of ride is the combination of motion based simulator coupled with a vehicle moving on a track. The rides in this category include Spiderman, Revenge of the Mummy and Transformers. These I felt were much more enjoyable and immersive at least the latter two were. The cartoon/comic book nature of Spiderman was interesting but you felt you were in a comic book rather than in “a real world”. Of the three I enjoyed Mummy the best. It had the same feel you get with Indiana Jones: Temple of the Forbidden Eye in Disneyland. Also the queue was very well themed like an archeological dig.

One attraction that I disliked was Shrek. The 3D movie was consistent with the Shrek universe but the special effects were mostly confined to bouncing the seats up and down. While this was a surprise the first time, it quickly became monotonous and irritating. I found myself wishing it was over. Not a good thing for a theme park attraction. The Terminator attraction is in the form of live action and a 3d video and was worth seeing.

Another disappointment was the Jurassic Park ride. A very boring slow boat ride with a couple of animatronic dinos and a water drop at the end. A side note, Universal has the annoying habit of not allowing you to take pictures on their rides. I understand the 3D rides but the JP ride did not allow you to take pictures either. I can’t imagine Disney asking you not to take photos on the Jungle Cruise.

Second Tip. On several of the rides you are not allowed to carry anything: no bags, no cameras, nothing. They do provide lockers free of charge for a short time period to house your gear during the wait queue and ride. Note that if you extend beyond that predetermined time, the lockers will charge you.

So, now on to the Wizarding World. Let’s cut to the chase: This is as good and in some ways better than any Disney attraction. I was disappointed that Disney let this opportunity slip away and Universal took up the challenge to bring Ms. Rowling’s world to life and wow did they succeed. If you are a Potter fan, this is a must see. Start in Universal Studios Orlando and head to the London section. Nowhere will you see any indication of where to go to see Diagon Alley. In fact you see confused Muggles looking everywhere for the entrance. Don’t worry, both workers and other guests will be happy to direct you. Oh yes, it’s through the brick wall, just as it should be. Your first visual is jaw dropping, you really feel you are in the wizards shopping place. I can think of nowhere in Disney World that is as immersive. If you have been to Cars Land at Disney’s California Adventure you will have that same feeling. Over the years, Disney has homogenized the shops in Disney world that for a while, I was advising people to visit the Emporium in the Magic Kingdom or World of Disney at Downtown Disney and skip all the other shops since all had the same selection of merchandise. I am glad to see that Disney has seen the error of this type of marketing and is now making the shops more unique. Universal has set the chinning bar on this one. Each shop is themed perfectly, carrying the merchandise as described in the books. The Weasley brothers have there joke shop, Ollivander’s for your wand, a shop for Quiddich gear and the list goes on. Ollivander’s even has a small show where a member of the audience has a wand choose them. You have a choice of a plain wand for around $30 or an interactive one for $45. Interactive ones can activate interesting effects at various places around both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. The overall theming is wonderful. You might want to put a locking charm on your charge cards as the available merchandise is so extensive you can drop a bundle in these shops. The giant dragon on top of Gringott’s Bank is amazing, breathing a huge amount of fire every so often. Inside Gringott’s again the theming is amazing and the ride is outstanding. One note, the ride vehicle seating is stair stepped so taller guests will find more leg room in the last row.

When you have visited all that Diagon Alley has to offer, including if you dare, Knockturn Alley. Head over to King’s Cross Station, go through the magical entrance to Platform 9 and three quarters and take the Hogwart’s Express to Hogsmeade. Here is where you really must have the two park ticket or you will miss the Hogwart’s Express experience. Like Diagon Alley, it is just as you expect. Look around the town, have a Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks, listen to the Frog Choir and head to the Forbidden Journey ride. Like Escape From Gringott’s, this ride is terrific.

I’ll conclude this whirlwind tour of the Universal Parks with a word about food. There are several places to eat in the parks. We tried a few. The Three Broomsticks and The Leaky Cauldron have good British fare and I recommend them. The burger’s at Mel’s Drive In are a cut above the rest. I do not recommend Richtrer’s burgers. Stale buns and a mediocre burger.

So, in the final analysis, I would say that Universal is a competent theme park well worth visiting on occasion. This is especially true of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I suspect this will be a yearly visit for me but I probably wil not spend more than a day there and just visit WWOHP. Competition is good for the consumer so I am delighted that Universal has thrown down the gauntlet to Disney.

As February is Black History Month, I’m a superhero fanatic, and Disney now owns Marvel, now seems like a good time to talk about my top 5 Black Marvel superheroes. I’m sure by now you’ve seen The Avengers, the Iron-Man trilogy, and Captain America 2: the Winter Soldier. If you haven’t seen these awesome flicks, stop reading, go buy them, and watch them immediately! OK, now that you’re up to speed…

Let’s look at some other Black superheroes that Disney is planning to or should make use of.

Number 5 – Luke Cage aka Hero for Hire / Power Man

Marvel first introduced Luke Cage in the 1970s in the comic Luke Cage, Hero for Hire, in an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of the blaxploitation genre at the time. This was the first time a Black super hero starred in his own comic title. Luke was a tough guy from the streets who was imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. While in prison he gained the powers of super human strength and bullet proof skin from an experiment that was sabotaged by a racist prison guard. The character has grown since his debut and has become a deeper more interesting character. Currently Luke Cage appears on Disney XD on The Ultimate Spider-man animated series. This version of the character has a revamped origin and is a teen working for SHIELD. There is also a live action version of Luke Cage that is set to appear some time this year (2015) in a miniseries on Netflix. This series is to be based on his original story and origin.

Monica Rambeau first appeared in Amazing Spider-man Annual #16. She was a harbor patrol officer in New Orleans who gained super powers after trying to stop someone from creating a deadly super weapon. She gained the ability to change her body into different forms of energy. Shortly after her first appearance, she became the first Black female to join the Avengers. Her super powers rank her among the most powerful of the Avengers. She later went on to become the leader of the Avengers for a time. Its been joked about in comics how often she changed her name; first she debuted as the second Captain Marvel, then she called herself Photon, and then Pulsar, among other names. There aren’t any concrete plans outside of comics for this character now. This character deserves to be explored.

Number 3 – Dwayne Taylor aka Night Thrasher

Dwayne Taylor was introduced by Marvel in the early 1990s. He had an origin that most super hero lovers might recognize. Dwayne’s parents were killed in front of him and he inherited his family’s company. So what does he do? He trains himself and uses his company’s resources to create crime fighting devices to aid him in his never ending quest for justice. Hmmm… who does that sound like? (Batman for those not catching the hint). Night Thrasher wore a bulletproof battle suit and created a super team of other young heroes called The New Warriors. While there are no plans for this character specifically, the third season of the Disney XD cartoon the Ultimate Spider-Man (Web Warriors) has been using the moniker New Warriors and who knows, maybe Night Thrasher could appear on it or maybe the New Warriors could get their own animated treatment.

Number 2 – T’Challa aka the Black Panther

T’Challa aka the Black Panther was the first Black superhero in mainstream American comics. He debuted in Fantastic Four #52. This character predated the formation of the Black Panther political party. T’Challa is not African-American, but a full blood African king of the fictional and technologically rich African nation of Wakanda. In his home country the king is given the title of Black Panther and granted mystical abilities. In Marvel comics, the Black Panther’s country is the sole producer of the fictional rare metal Vibranium which accounts for his nations wealth and technological prowess. Besides being king, T’Challa is a master acrobat, excellent hand to hand combatant, brilliant tactician, and a genius who is considered to be on of the top 10 smartest men in Marvel comics. For a time in comics, T’Challa was married to X-Men character Storm. The Black Panther appeared in many different animated series including a comic motion series on BET. For years Wesley Snipes expressed hard interest in playing T’Challa on the big screen. Ultimately that project ended up in limbo and was scrapped. Recently however Marvel has announced that T’Challa will appear in the Captain America 3: Civil War film and later his self titled movie The Black Panther.

Number 1 – Miles Morales aka The Ultimate Spider-Man

Debuting in the Ultimate Marvel line – an alternate universe and different take on Marvel character, Miles Morales becomes the Ultimate Spider-man after Peter Parker apparently dies. Miles’ uncle is a thief who raids the a lab working with the same chemicals that gave Peter Parker his powers. And another genetically altered spider hitches a ride with him and ultimately bites Miles. A minority Spider-man was meet with mixed reviews. Some while mentioning it was outside of mainstream Marvel didn’t mind the character and liked him. While others saw Miles as a political correctness move. Miles has the basic powers of the original Spider-man with a few additions. Miles is able to blend into his surroundings like a chameleon and also generate a electrical shock like “vemon” blast (similar to an electric eel). Miles Morales is set to appear in an episode of the Disney XD animated series The Ultimate Spider-man: Web Warriors. Some have said that since Marvel has secured the rights to include Spider-man in the Marvel (Disney) cinematic universe that it would great to see Miles Morales as Spider-man instead of Peter Parker. I have to agree that would be interesting.

I have to say that the character Storm gets an honorable mention, but since Fox now Disney owns the film rights to her character, I kept my top 5 to characters to those owned by Marvel and those who haven’t appeared in any movies as of yet.